SC adjourns hearing on ex-Congress Uttarakhand MLAs petitions till October 19

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on petitions of ex-Congress MLAs of Uttarakhand challenging their disqualification till October 19.

The Uttarakhand High Court had earlier in May dismissed the petition of nine disqualified Congress MLAs.

The Uttarakhand High Court had then held that by their conduct they have "voluntarily given up membership of their political party", implying that they can be disqualified on that ground.

Ordering a floor test on May 10 in the Assembly, the Supreme Court had said, "If they (disqualified MLAs) have the same status at the time of vote of confidence, they cannot participate in the House."

At present, the BJP has 28 MLAs, Congress has 27, BSP has 2, while there are three independent MLAs in the 70-member assembly besides one belonging to Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P).